Need Expertise..Females, despite Lifting, Cardio, etc..who has stubborn thigh, hips and buttock fat
RoxieDawn
Posts: 15,488 Member
Male or female responses wanted.. 
I do not normally create topics in the MFP forums and there is a topic of great importance to me, as I am an approaching middle age women 48 years old (peri menopause) who has been strength training, doing cardio and various mix ups in dieting and exercising to all accomplish really one goal now that I lost 15 pounds which is to get rid of or at least minimize the stubborn butt, leg (inner and saddlebags) and hips.
Let me iterate, I do not need to lose any weight. No weight what so ever.
1) have been lifting and cardio for 13 months. I lost 15 pounds and I have built me quite a bit of lean mass and strength, but the stuff mentioned above will not go away.
2) I have eaten in surplus to bulk, I have eaten at a deficit to loose fat. Right now I am what I call trying to cut by creating another deficit to loose fat (trying again) and I am getting leaner but I am in another cycle where the stuff mentioned above will not move.
3) The past 11 months has not been a failure as a matter of fact things have changed and mu body completely changed in a great way, except holding on the stuff!! LOL
4) If I have not already, I would like to mention I know all about the weight loss is not linear and cannot spot reduce… THIS IS NOT WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR..
Not to go into my programs, etc., what I want to do is open this topic for those not only in the same boat but would really like to understand this issue from those out there that have successfully beaten this beast or is at the moment.
I keep seeing article on the web that points back to the following (for example)..
1) Subcutaneous fat is far more stubborn compared to visceral fat. DUH!
2)Subcutaneous fat is stubborn because it is more reactive to insulin, has lower blood supply AND has more alpha receptors
3) Visceral fat is less stubborn because it has more beta receptors, greater blood flow and is less reactive to insulin
4) Female subcutaneous fat in the lower body has about 9 to 10 times more alpha receptors compared to male lower body fat
5) The place on men that is most stubborn is the lower belly fat and love handle area
6) The places that are most stubborn on women are the saddle bags, inner thighs, butt and lower belly fat.
7) Stubborn fat is stubborn is due to poor blood supply. Both the fact that it is in colder areas AND has more alpha receptors make this so
8) Stubborn fat is impacted directly or indirectly by many different types of hormones. These hormones have varying effects on the activity of HSL and LPL as well as alpha and beta receptors
AND
In order for fat to be lost from a particular area the following events need to occur
1) Fat needs to be released from a fat cell (this process of fat breakdown and release is called “lipolysis”).
2) Fat needs to be carried to another cell through the blood stream (poor blood flow to an area means slow fat loss from an area).
3) Fat needs to enter another cell to be burned (this process of fat actually being burned is called “lipid oxidation”).
4) Just because fat is broken down and released (lipolysis), does not automatically mean it will find its way to another cell and ultimately be burned (lipid oxidation). It could be restored and this is often the case in people who are very insulin resistant.
Etc… Etc.. Etc..Etc... Etc...
What this boils down to hormones and the way woman store fat. Yeah?
Any one, have knowledge or expertise in beating this demon or at my age, am I beating a dead horse, and should accept perhaps there is a set point here to acceptance?
DOES THIS TAKE YEARS, and I need to keep doing what I am doing?
Any ideas on how to approach this?
Now Go…. And btw, thanks for the responses.
I do not normally create topics in the MFP forums and there is a topic of great importance to me, as I am an approaching middle age women 48 years old (peri menopause) who has been strength training, doing cardio and various mix ups in dieting and exercising to all accomplish really one goal now that I lost 15 pounds which is to get rid of or at least minimize the stubborn butt, leg (inner and saddlebags) and hips.
Let me iterate, I do not need to lose any weight. No weight what so ever.
1) have been lifting and cardio for 13 months. I lost 15 pounds and I have built me quite a bit of lean mass and strength, but the stuff mentioned above will not go away.
2) I have eaten in surplus to bulk, I have eaten at a deficit to loose fat. Right now I am what I call trying to cut by creating another deficit to loose fat (trying again) and I am getting leaner but I am in another cycle where the stuff mentioned above will not move.
3) The past 11 months has not been a failure as a matter of fact things have changed and mu body completely changed in a great way, except holding on the stuff!! LOL
4) If I have not already, I would like to mention I know all about the weight loss is not linear and cannot spot reduce… THIS IS NOT WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR..
Not to go into my programs, etc., what I want to do is open this topic for those not only in the same boat but would really like to understand this issue from those out there that have successfully beaten this beast or is at the moment.
I keep seeing article on the web that points back to the following (for example)..
1) Subcutaneous fat is far more stubborn compared to visceral fat. DUH!
2)Subcutaneous fat is stubborn because it is more reactive to insulin, has lower blood supply AND has more alpha receptors
3) Visceral fat is less stubborn because it has more beta receptors, greater blood flow and is less reactive to insulin
4) Female subcutaneous fat in the lower body has about 9 to 10 times more alpha receptors compared to male lower body fat
5) The place on men that is most stubborn is the lower belly fat and love handle area
6) The places that are most stubborn on women are the saddle bags, inner thighs, butt and lower belly fat.
7) Stubborn fat is stubborn is due to poor blood supply. Both the fact that it is in colder areas AND has more alpha receptors make this so
8) Stubborn fat is impacted directly or indirectly by many different types of hormones. These hormones have varying effects on the activity of HSL and LPL as well as alpha and beta receptors
AND
In order for fat to be lost from a particular area the following events need to occur
1) Fat needs to be released from a fat cell (this process of fat breakdown and release is called “lipolysis”).
2) Fat needs to be carried to another cell through the blood stream (poor blood flow to an area means slow fat loss from an area).
3) Fat needs to enter another cell to be burned (this process of fat actually being burned is called “lipid oxidation”).
4) Just because fat is broken down and released (lipolysis), does not automatically mean it will find its way to another cell and ultimately be burned (lipid oxidation). It could be restored and this is often the case in people who are very insulin resistant.
Etc… Etc.. Etc..Etc... Etc...
What this boils down to hormones and the way woman store fat. Yeah?
Any one, have knowledge or expertise in beating this demon or at my age, am I beating a dead horse, and should accept perhaps there is a set point here to acceptance?
DOES THIS TAKE YEARS, and I need to keep doing what I am doing?
Any ideas on how to approach this?
Now Go…. And btw, thanks for the responses.
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Replies
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what are you judging yourself against? if it's retouched celeb / model shots then stop
I can only see your profile but see no fat areas - have you had a dexa scan for actual fat deposits - are you possibly judging yourself on something nobody else sees?
OK that is probably not what you're looking for
I'd say look at Bret Contreras - the whole weighted squats, lunges, hip thrusts, glute bridge and give it years at recomp and accept genetics
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Oh my...this has been on my mind. I have been in recomp for a tad over a year and have seen some fantastic changes in my body. My butt and thighs have been very slow to change.
Until recently I couldn't even see that I had quad muscles. Now they are visible when I flex. As for my butt...ughh it doesn't help that I have 41 year old skin covering it.
I kinda decided that I am going to keep at recomp through the summer and reevaluate. I might start a bulk late summer/early fall. If I do a bulk/cut I am only doing it once and then I am just going to assume that acceptance is the route to go. I will still lift for health but I am not going to beat myself up for something that may never change.0 -
I've accepted that I will always have more fat on my butt/gut/thighs because 1. female, 2. genetics, and 3. morbidly obese for 30 years. Only way I can see to get rid of (most) it is via surgery.
You look fine in your avatar, but I know how well clothes are at holding things in.0 -
I do agree with @rabbitjb - I've seen your profile picture in threads before and was very surprised to find out that you are 48 (well done!).
My stubborn fat areas are the typical male ones of belly, love-handles and chest. It's where I lose from the last and also where it piles on in a surplus.
Been maintaining for years and training hard and see a huge difference in leanness of legs, arms and back. Even when I gain a few pounds that leanness doesn't go from those parts. My "problem areas" are better but the difference is not as great.
But my appearance goal is to look good for a bloke in his 50's and not try to look like a 20 something. Maybe it's possible but that's not a goal I'm prepared to make the required sacrifices for. I'm not prepared to diet down to an ultra-low body fat. Appearance is a long way behind happiness, enjoying my training/exercise and also food in my priorities.
So can and will your "problem areas" improve? Yes - but slower than you would like.
I don't believe in set points, slow points but not set points if that makes sense?1 -
In repsonse to the first post...I am judging my self. I have real before after monthly pics (can't upload them they 90% naked) of the real stuff... I want to know how this works and how can I improve..
This is not a self judging post,
It is an open discussion and if I can get something for my self, education, knowledge that would be king.
Edited to add, I am NOT SAYING I look bad in any way.. I want to improve the KNOWN stubborn fat issues that really are from what I read hormonally to blame and of course genetics, ets..1 -
My cellulite has decreased in appearance, but it isn't gone (I've been lifting for 2+years and in my 30s). What I've gathered from online articles (most bb.com) is that it would take extreme dieting to completely get rid of all of the butt/thigh fat (especially if that is where you tend to have fat).0
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Well, you certainly covered it all with the exception that increasing insulin sensitivity in muscle cells also increases it in fat cells so you've done a great job. My big issue is lower ab but the question is at what BF% will you need to get to to burn these areas off to the degree that you want? It seems likely that you won't be able to find a sustainable BF% and not have a little extra in these areas.0
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Let me add, from what I am seeing here, then there is a sloooow point to maybe even a set point to where this "stuff" will not go any where...etc..
I AM OK WIT THAT..
I get what you guys are saying and of course I will just keep doing what I am doing none the less and BE HAPPY!!
Cheers Guys and thanks for the replies..0 -
Let me add, from what I am seeing here, then there is a sloooow point to maybe even a set point to where this "stuff" will not go any where...etc..
I AM OK WIT THAT..
I get what you guys are saying and of course I will just keep doing what I am doing none the less and BE HAPPY!!
Cheers Guys and thanks for the replies..
I know you've heard it before but you have done a great job so just keep on doing what you're doing!0 -
I got down to 97 at one point and held there for 6 months because I could - looked pretty awful in some areas and my kids wanted to do an intervention, but - still had belly, butt, hips. I look at my family and see thunderthighs etc. I talk to my personal trainer and she said so many people get discouraged and stop working out because there are areas on their bodies that don't seem to show much improvement. We are locked in by genetics more than we might be aware and some things will only go so far, no matter what you weigh and how diligently you lift and work out. All that said, your lifestyle (OP) is a good and healthy one and can't do anything but benefit you in the long run, so I would keep it up and not be looking for a huge return on investment any longer. Small permanent improvements might be all you will see from now on.0
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Thanks @wheelouse15..
The one thing I did not want to come from this, was that I was looking for you guys out there in the community to pass compliments on my way... but I will take them... LOL and thanks..
Somehow the I misrepresented what the goal was in this post (sorry about that) ,, and again thanks for reading and posting..
TGIF!! 0 -
In repsonse to the first post...I am judging my self. I have real before after monthly pics (can't upload them they 90% naked) of the real stuff... I want to know how this works and how can I improve..
This is not a self judging post,
It is an open discussion and if I can get something for my self, education, knowledge that would be king.
Edited to add, I am NOT SAYING I look bad in any way.. I want to improve the KNOWN stubborn fat issues that really are from what I read hormonally to blame and of course genetics, ets..
I do think that genetic body types and shapes are real - I can gain or lose and will always be built pretty much straight up and down - my ribcage and hipbones are close together and hipbones are slim so there just isn't any room for a waist, I can't get a curvy look or tiny waist even though I'd like a slightly smaller waist. Even before I had all those kids, could never get the middle much smaller than the hips/bust. If you are a pear, that's a healthy body type, you know, and you will probably always be curvy like that when fit. It's not a bad thing.
Do you know your overall bodyfat % ? If it is over 20% I think you have a good chance to reshape some more with continued exercise, recomposition, but if your fat % is already where you want it, I think that building up your quads/hamstrings/glutes is a better idea, even though it won't make you smaller, it will change the outline of your body to a leaner look.0 -
Ha! For what it's worth, I have had the same question floating in my head for a while. I am a PhD-level, peer reviewed physiologist working with world experts on fat loss and nutrition/exercise physiology, so I *should* know better than to be perturbed about my thighs when I, like the OP, am at a healthy weight and fitness level. I've lost 30 lbs and seen a big change in my body during this time. Still, I have been wondering about the fat that still hangs round my butt and thighs.
Certainly, the fat will disappear if I get my body fat % down lower. I have no idea about what mine is and my good health does not justify a dexa scan (our lab ones are too small for people). However, my upper body is very slim and muscular, because that is just how my skeleton is shaped and the fat simply left there first. I don't know if I really want to get any thinner above my belly, but that's what will happen if I struggle to lose the inner thigh jiggle.
I am well aware that my irritation with my lower body fat is very personal. I am not comparing to others (at 51 yrs, I have finally learned not to) and I feel so fortunate to be strong, healthy and reasonably attractive. It is more of a personal goal to see if it is biologically possible for me to have slim legs and butt. On the other hand, I don't think I really want to kill myself to test that hypothesis. I consider this phase of my weight loss as vanity-driven.
OP - if you figure this out, do share!!! Good luck and I share your frustration.1 -
I am in the same boat (and I'm 49), though of course to me you look fantastic. Interestingly, I went on a vacation to a warm spot with my extended family recently, so I had a chance to see lots of relatives of all ages/fitness levels in shorts and swimsuits. I did notice that we are all shaped basically the same--just smaller and larger versions. Recomp is slow (I've been at it for a year), and I often feel as if I'm not making any progress at all. Every once in a while I think about bulking and cutting, but it really doesn't appeal to me emotionally/psychologically. So I just go back to what I've been doing and try to focus (I know you are, too) on the fact that I'm going to turn 50 this year and I'm more fit than I've ever been. I'd love to hear any suggestions.1
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In repsonse to the first post...I am judging my self. I have real before after monthly pics (can't upload them they 90% naked) of the real stuff... I want to know how this works and how can I improve..
This is not a self judging post,
It is an open discussion and if I can get something for my self, education, knowledge that would be king.
Edited to add, I am NOT SAYING I look bad in any way.. I want to improve the KNOWN stubborn fat issues that really are from what I read hormonally to blame and of course genetics, ets..
I do think that genetic body types and shapes are real - I can gain or lose and will always be built pretty much straight up and down - my ribcage and hipbones are close together and hipbones are slim so there just isn't any room for a waist, I can't get a curvy look or tiny waist even though I'd like a slightly smaller waist. Even before I had all those kids, could never get the middle much smaller than the hips/bust. If you are a pear, that's a healthy body type, you know, and you will probably always be curvy like that when fit. It's not a bad thing.
Do you know your overall bodyfat % ? If it is over 20% I think you have a good chance to reshape some more with continued exercise, recomposition, but if your fat % is already where you want it, I think that building up your quads/hamstrings/glutes is a better idea, even though it won't make you smaller, it will change the outline of your body to a leaner look.
She's a 48 year old woman ...anything under 23% is considered lean ...I'd certainly hope, if non competition, she is over 20%
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Awww I got excited when reading this post I thought someone may actually be able to help but seems many of us are plagued by it! I wish I had an answer of any help, but it would appear no matter what I do or eat my bum/thighs just don't shrink!!0
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Genetics, time and hard work. You have been doing it all along. Keep up the great work! Continuing doing what is working for you.
I love this Bruce Lee quote: Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.
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Awww I got excited when reading this post I thought someone may actually be able to help but seems many of us are plagued by it! I wish I had an answer of any help, but it would appear no matter what I do or eat my bum/thighs just don't shrink!!
Guys who lament their beer guts should feel fortunate since those go away a lot faster than lower body fat.0 -
I have very large legs and butt. I worked my butt off, literally, to get lean enough to bulk-and my thighs and butt were STILL big and fatty. I'm bulking now but can tell that even after the cut, I'm always going to have very large thighs.0
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I'm 53. I've been a pear-shaped human being since the day I was born; heavy thighs above all (and heavy upper arms, oh my god, those upper arms!). One of my biggest regrets in life is hating my body--off and on, through fat and not-fat (can never say "thin" because of my thighs).
I look back at when I was in my teens and hated my thighs. 20's, remembering how much I hated my thighs. Then pics of me in my 30's, and I remember how much I hated my thighs. Then in my 40's, and I hated my thighs.
A few years ago, turning 50 was over the horizon, and I started MFP. Lost a bunch of weight, succeeded, and I swear to God the second I turned 50 I thought to myself what a freaking waste of time it was to hate my thighs or my body. It was one of the most freeing moments I ever had, when I realized I was done with the thigh-hate.
Now, I look like a fairly decent, in-shape 53-year old chick, with chunky, cottage-cheese thighs. And I LOVE these thighs. These lumpy bumpy things have walked me up and down Grand Canyon, they've zoomed me on water skis, they've hiked me up mountains, they can still perform a decent squat and deadlift, and they've taken me to places I will never forget. Thank you, thighs.
I can never have the time back that I spent looking at my thighs in the mirror, condemning them. Cursing my genes, wishing that I had nice, slender thighs. Considering how many people have it so much worse, I will take my thighs any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
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CarlydogsMom wrote: »I'm 53. I've been a pear-shaped human being since the day I was born; heavy thighs above all (and heavy upper arms, oh my god, those upper arms!). One of my biggest regrets in life is hating my body--off and on, through fat and not-fat (can never say "thin" because of my thighs).
I look back at when I was in my teens and hated my thighs. 20's, remembering how much I hated my thighs. Then pics of me in my 30's, and I remember how much I hated my thighs. Then in my 40's, and I hated my thighs.
A few years ago, turning 50 was over the horizon, and I started MFP. Lost a bunch of weight, succeeded, and I swear to God the second I turned 50 I thought to myself what a freaking waste of time it was to hate my thighs or my body. It was one of the most freeing moments I ever had, when I realized I was done with the thigh-hate.
Now, I look like a fairly decent, in-shape 53-year old chick, with chunky, cottage-cheese thighs. And I LOVE these thighs. These lumpy bumpy things have walked me up and down Grand Canyon, they've zoomed me on water skis, they've hiked me up mountains, they can still perform a decent squat and deadlift, and they've taken me to places I will never forget. Thank you, thighs.
I can never have the time back that I spent looking at my thighs in the mirror, condemning them. Cursing my genes, wishing that I had nice, slender thighs. Considering how many people have it so much worse, I will take my thighs any day of the week and twice on Sunday.
Perfect. Our complaints are so minor relative to things in life that really matter. Life is too short to fret about this stuff. We need to free ourselves like you did. Thanks!
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When I was 9 years old (well over 50 years ago), my mother who was watching Miss America on tv looked at me and said, "Your thighs have a gap. You need to fix them so they look more like those women." I was never able to fix them so they look like that. Also I have a round face, a fat neck, short legs and a long torso, and frizzy hair. My cousins laughed at me about my hair, and I spent 40 years ironing and straightening my hair which also never looked like Miss America hair. When I turned 50, suddenly I didn't give a rat's *kitten* about my skinny thighs with the gap or my frizzy hair. When I think of all the energy and time and money I spent stressing and desperately trying to fix what ultimately could not be fixed, well what a wretched waste of time.
Spend your time doing something that makes you feel good and makes other people feel good. My relentless quest to fix my hair and thighs stressed my friends as well as me. You are doing the best you can for yourself. That's all you can do.
And you didn't need this. You're looking for practical advice, and I sympathize, but don't have anything useful.0 -
starling01 wrote: »When I was 9 years old (well over 50 years ago), my mother who was watching Miss America on tv looked at me and said, "Your thighs have a gap. You need to fix them so they look more like those women." I was never able to fix them so they look like that. Also I have a round face, a fat neck, short legs and a long torso, and frizzy hair. My cousins laughed at me about my hair, and I spent 40 years ironing and straightening my hair which also never looked like Miss America hair. When I turned 50, suddenly I didn't give a rat's *kitten* about my skinny thighs with the gap or my frizzy hair. When I think of all the energy and time and money I spent stressing and desperately trying to fix what ultimately could not be fixed, well what a wretched waste of time.
Spend your time doing something that makes you feel good and makes other people feel good. My relentless quest to fix my hair and thighs stressed my friends as well as me. You are doing the best you can for yourself. That's all you can do.
And you didn't need this. You're looking for practical advice, and I sympathize, but don't have anything useful.
We are sisters in spirit! Yes, I don't have practical advice for something I know bothers the OP. All I know is ten years from now, you'll be looking at photos of you today, and first saying "geez, what the hell was I thinking?? That body is amazing!" and second saying, "what a waste of energy stressing about that." Starling01's "you are doing the best you can for yourself" is right on point.0 -
Try getting down to 12%-15% bodyfat. That's basically competition conditioning for a female. You'll be shocked at how little body fat you can get down to. Just a warning though: to do this takes some pretty extreme consistency and eating.
Thing is most won't attempt it and will likely just have to deal with the genetics they have (where fat is mostly stored). But if it's something you want to try, take about 24 weeks to do it.
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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In repsonse to the first post...I am judging my self. I have real before after monthly pics (can't upload them they 90% naked) of the real stuff... I want to know how this works and how can I improve..
This is not a self judging post,
It is an open discussion and if I can get something for my self, education, knowledge that would be king.
Edited to add, I am NOT SAYING I look bad in any way.. I want to improve the KNOWN stubborn fat issues that really are from what I read hormonally to blame and of course genetics, ets..
I do think that genetic body types and shapes are real - I can gain or lose and will always be built pretty much straight up and down - my ribcage and hipbones are close together and hipbones are slim so there just isn't any room for a waist, I can't get a curvy look or tiny waist even though I'd like a slightly smaller waist. Even before I had all those kids, could never get the middle much smaller than the hips/bust. If you are a pear, that's a healthy body type, you know, and you will probably always be curvy like that when fit. It's not a bad thing.
Do you know your overall bodyfat % ? If it is over 20% I think you have a good chance to reshape some more with continued exercise, recomposition, but if your fat % is already where you want it, I think that building up your quads/hamstrings/glutes is a better idea, even though it won't make you smaller, it will change the outline of your body to a leaner look.
She's a 48 year old woman ...anything under 23% is considered lean ...I'd certainly hope, if non competition, she is over 20%
I dunno, I will be 48 in a few weeks and am right at 20% (as measured both by caliper and the device that sends electricity through to check - it matches my BMI estimate so I am confident in the measurement) and look and feel good, not extreme at all, and most certainly not like a fitness model or competitor. Just regular fit older lady. I stay around the same weight but any first few pounds gained or lost for me come & go from the hips and upper thighs which is why I think that she might be able to slightly reshape by losing fat if she isn't already at 20%.0 -
@CarlydogsMom and @starling01 I appreciate both of your posts, and I will concur that there is something very freeing about turning 50 and shucking off the body-parts angst once and for all. Maybe it's wisdom, long overdue (for me, anyway.)0
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Hi, I'm 52 years old, 5'6, weigh 120, small framed and my body fat is 20%. I agree with robininfl. I'm not in any competitions or any form of a bodybuilder. I have always worked out or atleast active in my daily life. I think genetics plays a huge roll in my body makeup.
I feel very strongly that you need to find what exercises work for you. I was lucky enough to be introduced to pole dancing workouts with Sheila Kelly's S Factor. I started pole when I turned 40 and continued for 8 years before I had to quit due to an injury that had nothing to do with pole. During those 8 years I also incorporated pilates 1-2 x a week. When I had my injury I basically quit exercising for the first year than I turned 50 and was down again with a finger injury which lead to surgery which than in return I got a staph infection in my finger and back to surgery again. So at 51 started back at gym with trainer 3 x week, tried to walk 4 miles or 10000 steps. This plan wasn't working so well for me. I needed to go back to what works for my body. My body likes music, flowing around a pole. Engaging muscles to climb, invert and holding on to pole with your inner thighs. My body also loves pilates, she responds so well to the reformer and how it makes my body look....long and lean. And most of all I do weight train 3 x a week. I want to have some definition in my abs, arms, back, shoulders and thighs.
I've told you guys what has worked for me in the past. Let's fast forward to January 1st. I'm going to be as honest as possible, here it goes. I think on January 1st I ordered NutriSystem for a month. Their dry food would honestly make a good earthquake kit. I also ordered their frozen option and have enjoyed the breakfast, lunch and most snacks. I started back at the gym with my trainer, went back to pilates 2x week, trying to go back to pole atleast 1 x week until my body can adjust. If weather is acceptable I've been taking my goldendoodle for walks with my little Sophia tagging along. I cheat a little and have endermologie 2 x a week, this helps with cellulite and skin tightening. I've been at this consistently for January and I have abs again, my waist and hips are reducing everyday and I have gone down a size in my jeans. My upper body is slowly catching on and the lower has shown me what I really am made of.
I can't wait for February, I have same goals and just want to continue to better myself. I have 2 girls and I'm glad I've raised them to realize they need to feed their souls as well as their minds, exercise to be fit and healthy.
The bottom line you need to find what makes you happy while exercising and have fun. Try something old, hoolahoop, hopscotch or jump rope with a friend.
Regardless of our age, body form or weight, toning certain parts of our body is difficult and it may take awhile, so why not try something fun and see if that works for you. Think out of the box.
Sorry so long.....
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arditarose wrote: »I have very large legs and butt. I worked my butt off, literally, to get lean enough to bulk-and my thighs and butt were STILL big and fatty. I'm bulking now but can tell that even after the cut, I'm always going to have very large thighs. [/quot
My legs and butt won't get lean no matter what I do. I do have good muscle tone with a layer of fat that won't budge on legs. Maybe lippo is the only thing that will get rid of that layer of fat on legs? My butt "sigh" always hated it and nothing seems to work.0 -
Bravo for the thread and the knowledge you've accumulated. You are pretty much right in terms of time it takes and the recomp cycling.
Basically you have too choices - very low BF restriction...
Then possibly bulking slowly while strength training to a comfortable BF/BW.Try getting down to 12%-15% body fat.
...or continued at maintenance and strength train as a long-term recomp. (yes, it takes a long time).
Normally I'd suggest the later because most people do not have the developed lbm to support a large cut. But looking at your profile picture which shows good muscle dev., you might consider a cut down to 15-18% BF(err, not 12% - I know you said you don't want to lose weight) and then a bulk.
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@gia07
I'm in a similar camp to EvgeniZyntx and others as to few possible ways to change it, but with only one addition.
Back in my younger days when I was bulking some, I had a friend who was a bodybuilder type, and very good at it. He looked to be a beast and very defined. But I did learn something important from him, and that is that when lifting for appearance only he was almost as strict about avoiding certain specific exercises as he was about doing very specific exercises. Not to say he was unfit at all, but to get that look he intentionally avoided building certain areas to make the other areas more defined. Part of his compromise to get the look he wanted was to avoid working every group the same way to better manipulate his appearance.
And though I don't know nearly as much about it as he did, it makes sense and I've seen it in action myself, both with positive and negative results. As an example, I use the elliptical we have at home for general cardio work, and to build my legs for biking and some running. And it works muscles that biking or running don't seem to use as much. Though it's been great help overall as a training tool, the muscles it works sort of took away some of the definition that was greater in my quads when I was mostly just biking. They actually look smaller, but when I measured they were still bigger.
And for me, well unless my legs look really weird I'll just live with it. Better exercise performance is more important to me. But if I could change the way they look and increase performance I'd probably put some effort into it. But for me, the lesson was that appearance doesn't always reflect on performance. Though we all have some level of wanting to look more fit, that might conflict with our training and performance goals at times.
And at just over 53 years old, I suffer some of the same problem spots as many other guys. I've been spared moobs even at my heaviest weights, but the lower stomach does resist more than any other area. Some people get lucky and things never change, but most of us change with age some IMO.
And I also agree with the others that commented. I would have never thought that your profile photo was attached to a person in our age group. Often we see flaws nobody else would notice. Maybe your mirror is broken? 0
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